sisso

I think having him and Dom Tyson in the same midfield would make us a bit too slow. Since he last played we've recruited a lot of midfielders so perhaps they'll use him off half back or half forward if he makes it back.

Some real depth now when you consider we've still got a player the quality of Jack Trengove to find a spot for too if he gets back to his best

Good for us, we suck as favourites...need to learn to overcome this of course

We need Bugg to get into Cotchin about his wife going into bat for him on social media! Never underestimate the importance of having an annoying b@stard in the team to put the opposition off their game: psychological warfare.

He'd be mad to go to Freo who are going back to the start of their rebuild when we are finally coming out of ours. And screwing up his career by playing for boring-ass Ross Lyon!

No idea how we'll go in this game, Melbourne are the most unpredictable team in the AFL. Could win easily, get smashed or anything in between...

They don't really have a ball-winning inside midfielder in their team at all compared to our side which is loaded with them....if we can't get first use and therefore win this game easily it'll be shattering.

Strong looking side for us, plenty of run should be able to make mincemeat of the Bombers you'd hope. That's definitely the best side we've put on the park (on paper) in the Roos era...hope it translates in performance!

Already a more impressive player than the Toump and hasn't even debuted in the real stuff yet. How a #4 pick midfielder should look.

The football media is so hysterical now its beyond a joke. Ox went way overboard in his criticism and if anything made himself look foolish. He has one poor game (even though he still had an impact) and fluffs a couple of kicks and now it's "shocking" and a "disgrace". Sure his run up isn't the prettiest going around but I wouldn't be hitting the panic button yet over one bad game...

Essendon are virtually a VFL side anyway this year!

This pre-season has been far too exciting...I have to remain grounded. Brayshaw, Oliver, Petracca, Hogan all playing together soon, it's too much!

Doesn't sound like Mumford is 100% fit if his ankle is troubling him though. Good chance for big Max to take it right up to him.

Very true. Even against a terrible Brisbane side at the G last year we struggled to put them away...about time the team got over that or we'll never win 2 in a row!

Still got a strong squad in though....best available through the midfield and backline. If we don't smash the young Dogs it'll be a touch concerning...as concerning as practice games ever are

I'm still baffled (but thankful) that St Kilda didn't take him at pick #1

Any team after we've had a win...we just have to win 2 in a row this season. Never seen a team respond to wins as badly as ours has over the last few years.

Hopefully we don't get too many other injuries to the midfield before round 1. GWS are very strong in this area.

Usually they say "it doesn't look good" if it's a serious knee so should be ok. Even 6 weeks out and he'd be back for round 2 or 3.

It's hard not to feel that way...

In just one completed season there isn't a player Melbourne fans have ever loved more....I can't image how much it's gonna hurt if he leaves in his absolute prime.

Hope he stays....good players are hard to find and we're not a position list wise to lose 25 yo 100 gamers in their prime. He could improve his consistency a fair bit in his next 100 games of footy as well.